Bed block resurfacing machine for attachment to a garment die cutting machine



A. J. RUSH ,77 BED BLOCK RESURFACING MACHINE FOR ATTACHMENT TO A GARMENT DIE CUTTING MACHINE Filed May 13, 1955 @L F a a 1; )ED L H Fig. I 32 38 42 28 74 so INVENTOR. ALBERT J. RUSH Maw nited States Patent BED BLOCK RESURFACING MACHINE FOR AT- TACHMENT/TO A GARMENT DIE CUTTING MACHINE Albert J. Rush, Chula Vista, Calif. 7 Application May 13, 1955, Serial No. 508,165

2 Claims. (Cl. 51-241) The present invention relates generally to sanding devices and more particularly to a bed block resurfacing device for attachment to a garment die cutting machine.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a resurfacing device which is designed for attachment to the die carrying head of a garment die cutting machine for resurfacing the wooden bed block on which the garments are cut.

Another object of this invention is to provide a resurfacing device which can be swung across the bed block while mounted on the die head, thus ensuring that the bed block surface is finished true and parallel to the die head.

Another object of this invention is to provide a resurfacing device having a self-contained power unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a resurfacing device having an easily interchangeable abrasive surfacing sheet mounted on a rotatable roller.

Another object of this invention is to provide a resurfacing device which is adapted for fabrication from many different materials, so that the choice of material can be according to the dictates of availability and price considerations, the exact sizes and proportions being matters easily determined to suit particular conditions and needs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a resurfacing device which is practicable and inexpensive to manufacture.

Finally, it is an object to provide a resurfacing device of the aforementioned character which is simple and convenient to operate, and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawing which forms a material part of this disclosure and wherein similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawing, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation view of the device taken from the right hand end of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the device attached to a die cutting machine.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the device includes a generally rectangular frame comprising a pair of parallel side rails 12 interconnected by a front rail 14 and a rear rail 16. The side rails 12 and front rail 14 have upwardly projecting flanges 18 while the rear rail 16 has a downwardly projecting flange 20. Fixed beneath the front rail 14 and coextensive therewith is a front lower rail 22 having a downwardly ex- 7, 2,777,262 Patented Jan. 15, 1957 tending flange 24. Mounted longitudinally in the frame 10 is a roller 26 having a central shaft 28 which is journalled at both ends in bearings 30 and 32. The bearing 30 is secured to the underside of the front lower rail 22, while the bearing 32 is fixed beneath the rear rail 16.

Extending forwardly from the frame 10 are two support members 34 interconnected at their forward ends by a cross bar 36, said support members being angularly disposed and fixed at their rear ends beneath the side rails 12. Fixed to one of the support members 34 is an upwardly extending hinge 38 to which is attached one end of a motor support frame 40. This support frame 40 may be of any suitable structure, the simple rectangular frame shown comprising four angle sections 42 fixed together at their corners. Fixed to the other support member 34 are two spaced brackets 44 between which is pivotally secured a bolt 46, said bolt extending upwardly through a slot 48 in the bracket 50 mounted on the free end of the support frame 40. The bracket 50 is held between a pair of nuts 52 on the bolt 46 so that the one end of the support frame 40 can be adjusted and locked in position as required.

Mounted on the support frame 40 is an electric motor 54 held by straps 56, said motor having a drive pulley 58 thereon. Fitted around the drive pulley 58 is a belt 60 which also passes around a driven pulley 62 fixed to the end of the shaft 28 extending beyond the bearing 30. The tension of the belt 60 is adjusted by raising or lowering one end of the support frame 40 on the bolt 46 and locking the frame in place with the nuts 52.

The roller 26 may be divided diametrically and constructed in two halves 64, as in Fig. 4, for ease of manufacture. The halves 64 are held together by bolts 66 and nuts 68 which are recessed into the roller, said bolts passing through the shaft 28 and locking the roller against rotation on the shaft. The roller has a longitudinal V-shaped groove 70 in which is fitted a wedge strip 72. The roller 26 is covered by an abrasive sheet 74, the longitudinal edges 76 of which are turned into the groove 70 and clamped in place by the wedge strip 72 to hold the sheet firmly, said wedge strip being secured by suitable screws 78.

The device is designed for use on a garment die cutting machine such as shown in Fig. 5, this machine being known as a clicker type die cutter. The machine has an upright stand 80 on which is a vertically slidable horizontal arm 82. Mounted on the arm 82 is a die head 84 beneath which the garment cutting dies are placed. Beneath the die head 84 is a bed block 86 mounted on a fixed pedestal 88. The structure and operation of the machine are well known to those versed in the art and need not be described in detail in this application. The bed block 86, or at least the upper portion thereof, is usually of hard wood and serves to back up the material being out without danger of damaging the cutting dies. After continued use the surface of the bed block 86 becomes cut and scarred and does not support the garment material properly so that the dies cannot cut the material completely through in all places. The uncut portions are often cut by hand at a later stage. The bed block 86 must be resurfaced so that the working surface is absolutely level relative to the die head 84 in order to ensure accurate cutting.

The device described herein enables the bed block 86 to be resurfaced accurately and quickly since the device attaches directly to the die head 84 itself. The'frame 10 is dimensioned to fit the die head 84 with the flanges 18 extending upwardly around the die head. The frame 10 can be secured by any suitable clamps, although for convenience, claps 90 may be attached directly to the frame.

These clamps 90 are substantially conventional and each clamp comprises a bracket 92 fixed to the side rail 12 and having an upright post 94 pivotally mounted therein. At the upper end of the post 94 is a horizontal bar 96 at the end of which is a vertical clamp screw 98 having a foot element 100 thereon. The clamps 90 can be pivoted out wardly to allow the frame 10 to be fitted on the die head 84, the clamps then being swung inwardly and the clamp screws 98 tightened so that the feet 160 bear on the die head as in Fig. 5.

In operation, the die head 84 is adjusted vertically to bring the roller 26 in frictional contact with the top surface of the bed block 86 and the motor 54 is started. For convenience a motor operating switch 102 may be mounted on the support frame 40 and angularly disposed for maximum accessibility to the operator. The arm 82 is then swung horizontally about the stand 39 so carrying the rotating roller 26 across the bed block 86 and sanding the surface smooth and flat. The operation is thus accomplished Without dismantling any part of the die cutting machine.

The operation of this invention will be clearly comprehended from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawing and the above recited objects. It will be obvious that all said objects are amply achieved by this invention. The garment die cutting machine is conventionally equipped with adjustment means for varying the spacing of the die head from the die block. Advantage is taken of this adjustment means for varying the pressure of the roller on the die block as required to effect a complete or perfect resurfacing. In other words, the

die head with the roller attached is pressed downwardly by said adjustment means, without manual pressure being applied, during the re-surfacing operation, although the operator must of course, swing the die head horizontally to assure that all parts of the block are processed.

Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

It is understood that minor variation from the forms of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. A resurfacing machine for attachment to a garment die cutting machine having a fixed bed block and a die head vertically adjustable and horizontally swingable relative to the bed block; the resurfacing machine comprising: a generally rectangular frame for fixed attachment to a die head; said frame including a pair of side rails having upwardly extending flanges to engage the sides of the die head; end rails interconnecting said side rails; bearings fixed to said end rails; a plurality of clamps fixed to said side rails and having pivotally mounted clamp portions to engage the die head; bearings fixed to said end rails; a roller journalled at its. ends in said bearings for rotation about an axis parallel to the lower surface of the die head; said roller having a longitudinal V-shaped groove therein; an abrasive sheet surrounding said roller and having its longitudinal edges turned into said groove; a wedge strip removably secured in said groove to retain said abrasive sheet; and a motor mounted on said frame and operatively connected to drive said roller.

2. A resurfacing machine for attachment to a garment die cutting machine having a fixed bed block and a die head vertically adjustable and horizontally swingable relative to the bed block; the resurfacing machine comprising: a generally rectangular frame for fixed attachment to a die head; said frame including a pair of side rails having upwardly extending flanges to engage the sides of the die head; end rails interconnecting said side rails; bearings fixed to said end rails; a plurality of clamps fixed to said side rails and having pivotally mounted clamp portions to engage the die head; bearings fixed to said end rails; a roller journalled at its ends in said bearings for rotation about an axis parallel to the lower surface of the die head; said roller having a longitudinal V-shaped groove herein; an abrasive sheet surrounding said roller and having its longitudinal edges turned into said groove; a wedge strip removably secured in said groove to retain said abrasive sheet; a motor support frame pivotally mounted at one end to said frame; the other end of said support frame being vertically adjustable; a motor mounted on said support frame and operatively connected to drive said roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,395,468 Beal Nov. 1, 1921 1,540,591 Barker June 2, 1925 2,169,954 King Aug. 15, 1939 2,523,573 Jernegan Sept. 26, 1950 

